LEED
Certification

As environmental issues intensify, businesses are beginning to covet LEED certification
for their buildings more and more. Green buildings save money on energy
costs and attract new tenants. The LEED certification point system is
very simple - some would argue that it's so simple, it's flawed. Each
eco-friendly feature gets one point, no matter how significant in terms
of sustainability. (For example, a bike rack gets one point, as does
photovoltaic panels and waterless urinals.) The LEED certification
system consists of four levels - certified (at least 26 of 69 points),
silver, gold and platinum (at least 52 of 69 points.) Big cities in New
York and California make up most of the trend, though many
midwesterners are also jumping on board. Below is a list of some of the
greenest buildings in the U.S. Most of these have achieved at least a
Gold LEED rating.

Green
Buildings

This
building's center, a 600-foot-high concrete core, serves as its command
center with extra-wide stairways, elevators and utility risers. Air
intake monitoring and filtration, water collection, and sustainable
construction justify a Gold LEED rating for 11 Times Square.

Adobe
Systems is the first corporation to have three LEED Platinum rated
buildings. The East and West towers were renovated in 2001 to reduce
energy usage and feature an irrigation system that's linked to local
weather stations and automatically adjusts to real-time weather
conditions. The third building - Almaden Tower - was built in 2003. All
three towers received Platinum LEED certification in 2006. Bathrooms
feature waterless urinals, automatic flush valves, faucets, soap
dispensers and paper towel dispensers which minimize waste and improve
sanitation. Adobe utilizes an Intelligent Building Interface System
(IBIS), which allows staff to monitor and operate various building
controls, such as lighting or temperature adjustments in one or
multiple towers, within a single computer program.

In
2004, Alberici converted their 50-year-old manufacturing facility into
a sustainable corporate headquarters building. Renovations include
features such as an outdoor courtyard; two retention ponds to prevent
stormwater runoff; a rainwater catchment system; a raised floor and
natural ventilation system and a wind turbine that generates 20 percent
of the building's total energy needs. In addition to "going green,"
Alberici formed Vertegy - a company that focuses on building and
renovating to green standards.

This
was the first Platinum LEED Certified building in the nation and
functions entirely off of the electrical grid, via on-site solar
systems. The Audubon Center was constructed with over 25 percent
locally-harvested and over 50 percent locally-manufactured materials
and was also awarded points for water conservation.

This
54-story building is 1,200 feet tall, making it the second tallest
building in New York (next to the Empire State Building), housing 2.1
million square feet of office space. Its $1 billion construction was
done with renewable, recycled raw materials within 500 miles of New
York. The floor to ceiling windows maximize heat from the sun and flood
the building with natural light, boosting worker efficiency. LED
lighting and perimeter daylight dimming also reduce electricity. A 5.1
megawatt cogeneration plant produces about 70 percent of the building's
energy needs. Climate control is achieved by a groundwater heat
exchanger that makes ice to cool the building, supplementing the air
conditioning system. Waste and rainwater are reused and waterless
urinals and low-flow fixtures save water. An air filtration system
removes 95 percent of particulates and volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), so that the air vented back into the city is cleaner than the
intake, making the building, essentially, one giant air filter.
Overall, the building reduces energy consumption and water usage by 50
percent and produces net zero carbon dioxide emissions. It is the first
skyscraper of its kind to receive a LEED Platinum rating.

This
is the first building in Idaho to receive a LEED Platinum rating. The
Banner Bank building collects storm water from its surrounding seven
acres and reuses it in its sewage system. Other "green features"
include: individual computer controls instead of light switches; a
biodiesel fuel backup generator; under floor air distribution with
evaporative pre-cooling; geothermal heat system; convenient location
near public transportation access; indoor bicycle storage; individual
shower rooms; drought-tolerant vegetation; automated irrigation system
with motion sensors; water reclamation system and conserving
water
fixtures. The building was constructed using locally-sourced and 40
percent recycled materials.

The
LEED Platinum Certification given to the California Department of
Education building marks the first of this honor awarded to a
state-owned office. The building features a highly energy efficient
heating and cooling system and applicances. After the building was
retrofitted to meet green standards, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
issued an executive order for a 20 percent energy reduction in
state-owned buildings by 2015.

This
25-story office tower has a LEED Platinum rating with a building design
that maximizes natural day light and perimeter light sensors that
automatically dim the lights inside when the sun shines in brightly.
Other features include photovoltaic panels on the roof, low-flow
toilets, zero-VOC paints throughout the building's interior and fan
rooms on each floor that can flush in fresh outside air on command. The
building composts 10 tons of cafeteria waste a year, saving $10,000.

This
library was constructed, dedicated and opened in 2004, with significant
"green" renovations made in 2007 which earned it a LEED Platinum
rating; The recently-added rooftop garden absorbs carbon, reduces
rainwater runoff and regulates temperatures. The architect has also
implemented the use of green cleaning chemicals, increased recycled
content for paper products, and waste reduction through local sourcing
and the carbon offsetting of all non-renewable energy.

This
sustainable mixed-use condominium is slated to be completed in 2011 and
will house 20,100 square feet of office space, 5,400 square feet of
retail units and 113 residential units. The $25 million innovative
design features photovoltaic panels, solar hot water generation,
armatures for wind turbines, thermal mass for inslulation, shading for
natural cooling, enclosure for terraces and loggias for congregating on
the ground.

After
a $120 million renovation, the Empire State Building joins the ranks
among the long list of buildings that have "gone green" and sought LEED
Platinum certification to obtain more tenants during the economic
recession. The improvements include retrofitting all 6,500 windows for
added insulation and upgrading the lighting, cold water and ventilation
systems.

As
Chicago's first eco-friendly parking garage, this 11-story, 15,000
square-foot unit houses 725 individual parking spaces, along with bike
racks, plug-in stations for electric vehicles and spaces for
car-sharing services. The entire structure is powered by a series of
six wind turbines requiring winds travelling at 2 miles per hour to
provide electricity for its exterior lighting. The green roof provides
a solution for the problems of urban heat and rainwater runoff.

The
Hearst Tower has a host of features that contribute to it's gold LEED
rating, including low-emitting glass, light sensors to control the
amount of artificial light used based on the amount of natural light
available from outside, high-efficiency HVAC systems, Energy Star
appliances, and the use of outside air for cooling and ventilation
during 75 percent of the year. Rainwater collection and reuse provides
about half of the watering needs while also humidifying and chilling
the 10-story atrium as necessary. Low-vapor and low-toxicity paints are
used on walls and concrete surfaces, and furnishings are
formaldehyde-free. Floors and ceilings were manufactured with recycled
content and wood from sustainable forests.

IEUA
was constructed with recycled building materials both on its interior
and exterior surfaces. Solar roof panels produce 50 percent of the
building's energy. The use of recycled water and high-efficiency
plumbing, along with the planting of native, drought-tolerant trees,
shrubs and bushes throughout the landscape, reduces water consumption
significantly. Beyond sustainable construction, the office encourages
green practices by offering a 9/80 or 4/10 work schedule to employees,
providing bike racks and vehicle charging stations and encouraging
participation in a rideshare program.

This
building utilizes a rooftop rainwater catchment system to flush
toilets. Other green features include climate control via concrete
shelves outside the windows which provide shade during the summer and
allow the sunlight to penetrate during the winter, and a raised
flooring system that allows wiring, heating and cooling systems to run
under offices and workstations. This state office building also has a
LEED Platinum rating.

With
affordable residential buildings like this one, recovering the costs of
going green can be tough, since raising the cost for tenants is not
feasible. Still, Morrisania homes saw the benefits of obtaining a LEED
silver rating. Recognizing the high asthma rates in the area, the
builders installed wall and ceiling fans designed to suck out harmful
vapors.

This
15,000-square foot office building features photo sensors that dim
according to the brightness of natural light, conference room chairs
made from recycled seat belts, waterless urinals and advanced
heating
and cooling systems in each office that shut off when windows are
opened. Water collected from the roof is used to flush toilets. The
building looks like a larger version of the beach bungalows nearby and
has received a LEED Platinum rating.

Nearly
80 percent of the materials used to construct this architectural firm
office building came from within 500 miles of its location. The LEED
Platinum rated building boasts a natural ventilation system and all
workstations have views open to natural daylight.

The
Phillip Merrill Center was constructed with renewable, recycled
materials that have little to no impact on its surrounding bay and
creek environment. The building features natural ventilation, natural
light, insulated panels, a rooftop rainwater catchment and composting
toilets. Solar power heats its water and solar energy meets 11 percent
of the building's energy needs. Along with its Platinum LEED
certification, the Phillip Merrill Center is recognized for
being one of the world's most energy-efficient buildings.

Historic
presevation meets environmental sustainability with this LEED Platinum
Certified building. When the National Guard Annex was built, 95
percent of the construction waste was able to be recycled instead of
put in a landfill. The building features an under-floor ventilation
system that displaces warm air with cool, outside air. The building's
rooftop captures rainwater for flushing toilets. Low-flow showerheads
and faucets help conserve water. Climate control is achieved through
glazed windows that maximize daylight. Lighting inside the building is
also controlled by sensors and dimming switches. The building's
interior sustainable design was achieved without the sacrifice of its
historic exterior features.

This
31-story condominium features photovoltaic rooftop cells that convert
sunlight into electricity, twice-filtered air and a $1 million
wastewater treatment plant in the basement that recycles wastewater in
the cooling tower for the building's HVAC system. The building has
attracted the attention of the City Bakery's owner, Maury Rubin, who
also opened a sustainably-constructed organic bakery on the ground
floor of the Riverhouse.

RMI
earned Platinum LEED certification for energy efficiency and
sustainable construction, along with points for its educational
programs. Almost 50 percent of the materials used in the construction
of the office were reused, and 17 percent of all furnishings were made
from renewable materials. The building features high performance
windows, Energy Star office equipment, programmable thermostats, and
energy-efficient lighting.

Constructed
with reused materials from the demolished structure that previously
stood in its place, this 12-story building consumes 20 percent less
power than required by California law and has a LEED Silver rating.
Green design features include: integrated solar panels on building's
exterior and rooftop; solar greenhouses on each floor; chilled
ceilings; a water recycling system in the basement; waterless urinals
and faucet sensors and on-demand water heaters to reduce water usage to
five gallons per occupant per day. A raised floor ventilation system
pulls hot air out of the building and is controlled at each workstation
for individual comfort. Wind turbines along part of the facade and roof
generate energy and light shelves increase the pentration of natural
daylight into the work space.

Slated
to be completed by 2017, the new Transbay Bus Terminal in San Francisco
will be built from glass with a rooftop park to absorb the carbon
dioxide from buses. The 1,200-foot-tall Transbay Tower will be set in
the heart of the terminal and will feature: wind turbines on the roof;
fresh air ventilation; lightshevles to control lighting and reduce
energy use and solid exterior panels near the floor to remove
undesirable solar gain along with sunshades to allow for solar control.

Though
the building that houses the offices has a gold rating, the USGBC floor
has a LEED platinum rating. The building features a rooftop garden and
no-flush urinals which aid in the conservation of water.

The
Visionaire has been labeled one of the greenest high rise residential
buildings in the U.S. At first glance, the granite base and glassy
surface make the building appear to be energy inefficient, but the
insulated spandrel glass panels used in its construction have helped it
achieve a LEED Platinum rating. The green roof terraces were designed
to be useful spaces, planted with sedums and other grasses, shrubs and
small trees, and providing views of the Hudson River and Manhattan
skyline. The roof is also equipped with three rings of blue solar
panels and a microturbine that generates electricity. The developers
designed the building with indoor air quality in mind. Fresh air is
filtered and preconditioned with humidity control and supplied to every
room. An advanced wastewater reclamation system cleans and
reuses
water in the building's toilets, green roofs and cooling towers.

When
this building was erected in 2007, city officials called it the city's
greenest building. With a LEED Platinum rating, it was designed to
maximize natural light and ventilation as well as minimize energy
consumption. Photovoltaic panels provide almost 20 percent of
electricity needs. The green roof above the auditorium absorbs
rainwater and a wetland area planted nearby along with waterless
urinals and a composting toilet reduce water consumption by 30 percent.
Water is cleaned by the landscape and reued to flush toilets. The new
structure is nearly four times the size of the previous visitor's
center.